As you ski down the trail, your instructor might tell you to get out of the backseat. The backseat is ski instructor lingo for keeping most of your body weight on the tails of your skis. "Get forward," another instructor cue, describes the safest and most efficient alignment for alpine skiing, but the forward position used in alpine skiing is easier to explain than execute.
The Forward Stance
The effective ski alignment positions your center of gravity over your feet. Your knees flex, your shins touch the tongues of your ski boots, your hands stay in front of your body, and your upper body stays perpendicular to the slopes. The proper forward alignment facilitates your ability to see both of your hands and your ski poles in your peripheral vision. Your poles help guide you down the hill and keep your weight forward, so knowing where they are in relation to the rest of your body promotes efficient skiing.
Directional Control
Just as the passenger in the backseat of your car is not in a position to control the direction of your vehicle, your ski tails can't control the direction of your skis. Your ski tips are the drivers of your skis. When your shins press into the tongues of your ski boots, they transmit a message to your feet, which helps you apply pressure to your skis and control the direction and speed of the turn. Your feet and ankles are to your skis what your hands are to the steering wheel of your car. Steering from the backseat is impossible.
The Phantom Foot
The forward lean position might also prevent knee injuries, especially the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament tear. A phenomenon called the phantom foot triggers a series of events that lead to the backward twisting fall that causes this injury. These include shifting your weight toward the tails of your skis, and keeping your ski poles behind your body, reports researchers involved in the Vermont Ski Safety project. The added weight on your ski tail makes it move in the opposite direction of your feet, causing you to simultaneously fall backward and twist your leg. If you feel that you are losing balance, bring your hands in front of your body and shift your weight forward, advises Dr. Carl Ettlinger, head of the Vermont ski safety study.
Fear
The forward lean is counter-intuitive, especially if you are not an athletic daredevil. It's natural to pull your center of gravity away from the fall line, in a posture that shrieks "I'm not going there, don't make me!" If your friends constantly take you to slopes that are too steep, too icy, too crowded or too bumpy for your skill level, your fear is justified. Conquer fear by taking lessons and practicing your ski skills on easier terrain.
Equipment Issues
Skis that are too long for your height, weight and skiing ability, as well ski boots that fit like bedroom slippers might make it impossible to assume the forward lean. Your ski boots require a snug fit. If they are too big, your feet have too much motion, and your feet can easily slide toward the back of your boot. A certified boot fitter adjusts your boots, adds foot beds and corrects the forward lean.
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